How much RAM does self-hosted Penpot need?

2 GB is sufficient for solo use or a small team. For teams of 5 or more working simultaneously on complex files, plan for 4 GB. The most memory-hungry service is penpot-backend (JVM Clojure). PostgreSQL is lightweight (<256 MB).

Do collaborators need to install anything?

No. Penpot runs entirely in the browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge). There is nothing to install. Collaborators receive a link, create an account, and immediately access shared files.

Can I import my Figma files into Penpot?

Yes. Penpot includes a native .fig importer. File → Import → select the exported Figma file. Components, styles, auto-layouts and prototypes are converted. Some advanced effects may need manual adjustment.

Is email verification required at sign-up?

No. This ServOrbit template enables disable-email-verification by default — new accounts are active immediately without email confirmation. Disable this flag and configure SMTP to enforce verification when you move to production.

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Penpot

The open-source Figma alternative — design, prototype and live CSS on your own VPS.

2 GB (4 GB recommended) RAM 2 vCPU Port 9001 Available

Tech stack

DockerClojurePostgreSQL 15Valkey 8

Minimum RAM2 GB (4 GB recommended)

Minimum CPU2 vCPU

Default port9001

Compatible OSChoice of Linux distributions

Penpot is an open-source design and prototyping platform (MPL-2.0, ~57 k GitHub stars, v2.17) that runs entirely in the browser and self-hosts on your own infrastructure. Where Figma stores your files on Adobe servers and charges per seat, Penpot runs on a VPS you control — all design assets, maquettes and prototype links stay on your machine.

The feature set covers the complete design workflow: vector drawing tools, auto-layout with native CSS Flexbox and Grid semantics, reusable components with nested overrides, design tokens, interactive prototypes with click/hover/delay transitions, and a live CSS inspector that outputs the exact generated code as you design. Real-time multiplayer collaboration is built in — multiple designers edit the same file simultaneously with live cursors and contextual comments.

On a ServOrbit VPS, the Docker Compose stack (Nginx frontend, Clojure backend, export service, PostgreSQL 15, Valkey) starts in under two minutes. The first user to register becomes admin. Email verification is disabled by default so the team is productive immediately; enable SMTP and re-enable verification when you move to production.

Key features

Real-time collaboration — multiple designers edit the same file simultaneously with live cursors and contextual comments.

Interactive prototyping — connect pages with click/hover/delay transitions to create clickable prototypes without code.

Components & design tokens — shared libraries of components, colours, typography and reusable grids across the team.

Live CSS inspector — objects display generated Flexbox and Grid CSS in real time in the Inspect panel.

Figma file import — native .fig importer with faithful conversion of components, styles and auto-layouts.

Data stays on your VPS — design files never leave your infrastructure; no data flows to third-party servers.

MPL-2.0 open licence — ~57 k GitHub stars, monthly releases, built-in MCP plugin (v2.17+).

When to use this solution?

1

Replace Figma without a monthly bill

Deploy Penpot on a ServOrbit VPS and invite your whole design team. Files stay on your infrastructure, and all features (prototyping, components, auto-layout, CSS inspector) are included with no paid tier. Monthly cost = VPS price.

2

Design-to-dev handoff without a third-party tool

Penpot's live CSS inspector generates Flexbox/Grid code directly from the design file. Developers open the project link in their browser and copy exact CSS values — no Zeplin, no plugin, no PDF export.

3

Agency with sensitive client data

Host Penpot on a dedicated VPS in the jurisdiction of your choice. Client maquettes and brand assets never leave your infrastructure. Create one account per client with isolated projects.

Deploy Penpot on your VPS

Guide optimized for ServOrbit Cloud VPS.

01

Order a ServOrbit VPS

Pick a VPS with at least 2 GB RAM (4 GB recommended for teams). Ubuntu 24.04, Docker installed by the provisioner. Penpot is a multi-container stack.

02

One-click deploy

The provisioner starts the Penpot Docker Compose stack (frontend, backend, exporter, PostgreSQL 15, Valkey). First boot runs database migrations — allow about one minute.

03

Point a domain and create the first account

Point a subdomain to your VPS. The provisioner configures the HTTPS proxy. Open the URL in your browser and create your admin account — email verification is disabled by default for immediate access.

04

Create a project and invite your team

In Penpot, create a Team, a Project, and a first file. Invite collaborators by email. Each member gets immediate browser access with no local install required.

05

Harden for production

Disable open registration in PENPOT_FLAGS to control access. Configure an SMTP relay for email invitations. Backups = Docker volume for PostgreSQL + Docker volume for assets.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, for the vast majority of use cases: mockup design, interactive prototyping, component libraries, Flexbox/Grid auto-layout, real-time collaboration and CSS export. A few advanced Figma features are absent (deterministic variables, third-party plugins, Dev Mode). For a team that values data sovereignty, Penpot is mature today (v2.17, ~57 k stars).